Introduction: Afghanistan, , or Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a country in south-central Asia. It is bounded on the north by Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, and Tajikistan; on the northeast by a tip of China and Kashmir; on the east and south by Pakistan; and on the west by Iran. Afghanistan's area is not known exactly; it is estimated at about 250,000 square miles (647,500 km2), make it a 41st largest country of the world.
Topography: Afghanistan is a dry, landlocked country, consisting mainly of rugged mountains, barren plateaus, and wind-swept steppes and deserts. Its most prominent feature is the Hindu Kush, a towering mountain range trending northeast-southwest from Kashmir to central Afghanistan. Within the country, the range's loftiest peaks attain heights of more than 20,000 feet (6,100 m); just beyond the Pakistan border, more than 25,000 feet (7,600 m). Plateaus and fingerlike mountain spurs, such as the Koh-i-Baba and Paropamisus ranges, make up most of central Afghanistan. Afghanistan's maximum dimensions are roughly 550 miles (890 km) north-south and 600 miles (970 km) east-west. Afghanistan highest point is Nowshak, 24,557 ft (7,485 m) above sea level and its lowest point is in Sistan Basin, 1,640 ft (500 m) above sea level.
Drainage system: Nearly all of Afghanistan's rivers rise in the mountains, yet most carry limited amounts of water. Only those fed by the Hindu Kush, especially its glaciers, have relatively steady flows. Many streams are intermittent. Among the principal rivers are the Amu Darya in the north, the Kabul in the east, the Helmand in the south, and the Harirud in the west. Except for the Kabul, its tributaries, and a few headstreams in the east, Afghanistan's rivers never reach the sea. They drain inland and end in steppes, deserts, salt lakes, and alkali flats.
Geographical significance: Afghanistan is situated at the intersection of the Indian Sub-Continent (Pakistan), the Middle East (Iran), Central Asia (Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan) and China (The Wakhan Corridor). In terms of International borders, the details are Pakistan (2430 km); Iran (936 km); Tajikistan (1206 km); Uzbekistan (137 km); Turkmenistan (744 km), and China (75 km). Afghanistan is adjacent to Middle Eastern countries that are rich in oil and natural gas. And though Afghanistan may have little petroleum itself, it borders both Iran and Turkmenistan, countries with the second and third largest natural gas reserves in the world.
While the theory of buffer states may no longer be operative, but the considerations of regional balance of power and a country’s location affording geo-strategic access to strategically vital regions can be consider as a strong strategic importance today.